'Rathgormack were very unlucky' - Crokes bruised but still standing after Waterford trip
Michael Ryan/sportsfile Side's Dr Tony Leaves Final After Crokes Semi Sfc Victory Against In Of Field Club P The Brosnan The His Munster Picture: Rathgormack
Rathgormack fell to the ground as Dr Crokes fell over the line in Sunday's Munster football semi final at a wet and windy Dungarvan.
The back to back Waterford champions had the eight-time provincial winners on the ropes in injury time. A 64th minute free from Jason Gleeson dropped dangerously around the Crokes' goal and a mad scramble ensued. Stephen Curry and Conor Murray both saw their shots blocked. Referee Niall Quinn blew the full-time whistle just as Glen Power walloped the ball into the side net. Rathgormack were that close to their first Munster final appearance. The men in green and red dropped to their knees.
"You've got to take your hat off to Rathgormack, they threw absolutely everything at us," Crokes selector Denis Coleman admitted. "They were very unlucky not to get something out of the game."
Four points from Micheál Burns (three from play) in testing weather and underfoot conditions proved valuable. The Kerry men were also grateful to goalkeeper Shane Murphy who denied Peter Walsh from close range six minutes into the second half. "He's a top class keeper. The initial stop and then to come back at it as well and scramble it back out of there."
It was an error strewn second half performance from Crokes.
"Both sides seemed to play better into the wind. One of the things they fed off big time in the second half was some of our poor shooting, some of our poor passing, our touch wasn't there. Mistakes are going to be made on a day like today and they certainly got oxygen from mistakes we were making. There's huge learnings. Better to come out the right side of that result having had a bad performance rather than having a sparkling performance and losing by a point."
Rathgormack boss Kenny Hassett had mixed emotions. "Very disappointed but proud. We all had a feeling during the week that we would put in a performance. We did. A huge effort from all the lads but gutted to miss out by a point against such a good side. I thought we deserved a little bit more, we didn't get it and we're out."
Rathgormack captain Willie Hahessy held Kerry attacker Tony Brosnan scoreless from play and burst up the field at every opportunity. "It's Willie! We expect that from him and he expects that from himself. Once I told him he was taking Tony Brosnan, you could see a smile on his face! He wanted that challenge."
Déise Player of the Championship James Power also starred with his devastating solo runs and two long range points. "He gives us that go forward ball, he beats a man, creates overlaps and he works, he works and he works. He sets the tone for us."
Five busloads of Crokes supporters landed in Dungarvan on a windswept Sunday morning. Rathgormack won the toss and elected to play with the elements. They capitalised straight away as Conor Murray measured a mighty 50 metre point. James Power added another from distance.
Tony Brosnan converted two frees for Crokes before a brilliant Brian Looney tackle led to a Micheál Burns point at the other end. He ended the half with three (two from play).
As the rain teemed down, Jason Curry got a point back for Rathgormack. He should have struck another one after Adam Murray won a turnover. A high tackle by James Power was punished with another Brosnan free (0-5 to 0-3).
On 17 minutes, Power slotted his second from 45 metres out. Burns bagged his third before Hahessy shipped a heavy challenge from Gavin White. A yellow card and a Jason Gleeson conversion followed. Corner back Maidhci Lynch made it 7-5 at the break in favour of the visitors.
Burns missed a free in front of goal on the restart. At the other end, Stephen Curry had a penalty shout waved away. On 36 minutes, James Power sped past three Crokes defenders and fed Peter Walsh. Shane Murphy beat away his powerful shot. Burns clipped his fourth of the day in response.
Rathgormack failed to capitalise on a promising counter attack before Jason Curry dragged a free wide. Adam Murray eventually kicked their first second half score on 45 minutes. Mistakes crept into the Crokes play as Burns sent another free off target.
A Conor Murray point effort clipped the post before Crokes sub Kieran O'Leary was fouled off the ball by Sean Hahesy. Tony Brosnan tapped over the free. 9-6 with eight minutes left.
Peter Walsh fetched a high ball from Conor Murray and supplied a point for Jason Curry. Rathgormack appealed for a free when Francis Roche went to ground in front of goal but Niall Quinn blew for a free out instead. Entering injury time, a foul on Glen Power led to a Curry conversion. That green flag proved elusive however.
J Curry 0-3 (1f), J Power 0-2, J Gleeson (f), A Murray, C Murray 0-1 each.
M Burns (1f), T Brosnan (4fs) 0-4 each, M Lynch 0-1.
P Hunt; M Power, S Hahesy, W Hahessy; G Power, T Walsh, C Crowch; P Walsh, M Curry; J Curry, J Power, C Murray; J Gleeson, S Curry, A Murray.
B Power for Crowch (HT), F Roche for A Murray (48).
S Murphy; G White, F Fitzgerald, M Lynch; E Looney, M Potts, B Looney; M O'Shea, C Keating; T Doyle, G O'Shea, C McMahon; T Brosnan, M Burns, D Shaw.
J Payne for Potts (42), K O'Leary for McMahon (45), D Naughton for Doyle (54), M Moloney for Lynch (58).
N Quinn (Clare)